Wisconsin sheds light on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

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Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15, 2024, by reminding Wisconsin residents to be aware of the signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults and report any instances of mistreatment to Wisconsin’s Elder Abuse Hotline https://reportelderabusewi.org/report-elder-abuse/ and 1-833-586-0107.

“We must be proactive and collaborative in combating elder abuse,” said Kaul. “By learning about the signs of elder abuse, you’ll be better prepared to help prevent it.”

The World Health Organization defines elder abuse as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person.” It is a violation of human rights, and it can cause severe physical and psychological consequences for older individuals.

According to Wisconsin’s Annual Elder Abuse and Neglect Report from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which provides a summary of reported incidents of Elder Abuse in Wisconsin, in 2022, the highest occurring reason for a report was self-neglect, making up 47.5 percent of calls. This was followed by financial exploitation at 22 percent and neglect by others at 10.4 percent. In reports stating that an elder at risk had died, 34.4 percent indicated that the death was related to the incident of abuse.

Attorney General Kaul advises individuals that suspect they are a victim or know someone who might be a victim of elder abuse to learn more about the signs at https://reportelderabusewi.org/report-elder-abuse/ and make a report through Wisconsin Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-833-586-0107.